Device for Connecting Chairs in a Row

ABSTRACT

The invention enables distribution of a series of chairs in row alignment, preventing undesired shifting and movement thereof, being especially intended for chairs having a bottom frame disposed underneath the seat, said frame having at least one tubular profile whereupon the seat rests; said device standing out for comprising a female part and a male part associated to the tubular profile of the chair, destined for being solidarily connected to other male and female parts, respectively, of chairs disposed in adjacent lateral positions, and where the female and male parts comprise pivoting means which allow extraction and retraction of these in a fast and simple manner, depending on whether or not arrangement of chairs in row alignment is required.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of furniture and, more specifically, to chairs and their accessories.

The main object of the present invention is a device specially adapted for joining adjacent chairs, forming a straight row without misadjustments, thereby avoiding undesired movements and noises from the chairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, different types of furniture (chairs, seats or similar) susceptible of being successively joined together two by two to form modular units are known in the state of the art.

These currently known solutions require a specific configuration of their constituent elements; for example, in cinemas, a row of seats is generally mounted on a common bar with its own bearings. Other technical solutions require the use of units formed from parts of high structural complexity, which hampers assembly and disassembly thereof to a large degree, as well as considerably raising manufacturing and production costs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resolves the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a device for joining chairs whereby a group of chairs can be quickly and easily distributed in row alignment, forming a straight row without misadjustments and preventing undesired shifting and movement of the chairs caused by the user's constant action of standing up and sitting down.

The device for joining chairs object of the invention is of the type comprising a female part and a male part destined for joining and solidarily interlocking with other male and female parts, respectively, of chairs disposed in adjacent lateral positions. More specifically, the device described herein is especially intended for chairs having a bottom frame disposed underneath the seat, said frame having at least one tubular profile whereupon said seat rests.

The device of the invention stands out mainly because its female and male parts comprise folding means, in such a manner that it is possible to extract and retract these in a fast and simple manner, depending on whether or not arrangement of chairs in row alignment is required, remaining totally hidden underneath the chair if not required.

The female part of the present invention comprises a first fixing body having a recess dimensionally adapted for adjusting to the tubular profile of the chair frame; and a locking element, preferably T-shaped, which is associated to the fixing body and defines an enclosed space, having diverging projections on its distal end.

For its part, the male part comprises a second fixing body also having a recess adapted for adjusting to the tubular profile of the chair; and a hooking element associated to the second fixing body, having sharp vertical projections on its distal end destined for being introduced into the projections of the female part, stopping against these and preventing involuntary unhooking and release thereof.

Preferably, the fixing bodies of the female and male parts are manufactured from plastic material, while the locking and hooking elements are preferably metallic.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complete the description that is being made and with the object of helping to better understand the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, accompanying said description as an integral part thereof, is a set of drawings wherein the following has been represented in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:

FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of a chair that incorporates the device for joining chairs in row alignment object of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows another bottom view of the chair where its two parts for connecting to adjacent chairs have been deployed.

FIG. 3 shows an upper view of the female part.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the female part.

FIG. 5 shows an upper view of the male part.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the male part.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view showing the connection between the locking element of the female part and the hooking element of the male part.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device for joining chairs (1) object of the invention comprises a female part (10) and a male part (20) destined for being installed on the underside (3) of a chair (1). More specifically, in said FIGS. 1 and 2 a bottom frame (2) having two tubular profiles (4) whereupon the seat (3) of the chair (1) rests is represented.

The device for joining chairs (1) object of the invention stands out basically for comprising folding means (30) which allow the female and male parts (10, 20) to be extracted and retracted in a fast and simple manner.

FIG. 1 shows the female and male (10, 20) parts of the present invention, retracted and disposed in opposition to each other, remaining completely hidden underneath the seat (3) of the chair (1) in situations where arrangement of chairs (1) in row alignment is not required.

Further, FIG. 2 shows the female and male parts (10, 20) folded and pivotally deployed outwards approximately 180°, prepared for being joined laterally to other male and female parts (20, 19), respectively, of adjacent chairs (1).

FIGS. 3 and 4 represent the female part (10) of the invention, which stands out basically for comprising:

a first fixing body (11) having a recess (12) dimensionally adapted for adjusting in the tubular profile (4) of the chair (1) of the frame (2); and

a locking element (13) associated to the first fixing body (11), which defines a T-shaped enclosed space, having two diverging projections (14) on its distal end by way of a fork joined by one of their sides.

For its part, FIGS. 5 and 6 show upper and side views, respectively, of the male part (20) of the invention, which comprises:

a second fixing body (21) also having a recess (22) dimensionally adapted for adjusting to the tubular profile (4) of the chair (1) frame (2), and

a hooking element (23) associated to the second fixing body (21), having a pair of tilted sections (25), shown in FIG. 6, on its distal end, wherefrom sharp vertical projections (24) joined by means of an intermediate horizontal section (28) project, destined for being introduced into the projections (14) of the female part (10) of the adjacent chair (1), stopping against these and preventing involuntary unhooking thereof.

As can be observed in FIGS. 3 and 5, the folding means (30) comprise passage holes (17, 27) on the fixing bodies (11, 21) of the female and male part (10, 20), respectively, allowing both the locking element (13) and hooking element (23) to rotate approximately 180°, remaining completely hidden underneath the seat (3) of the chair (1) in situations where arrangement of chairs (1) in row alignment is not required.

In the case of the female part (10), two side sections (15) project from the fixing body (22) which taper slightly towards each other and end in two elongated parallel sections (16), shown in FIG. 3, on the distal end of which the aforementioned diverging projections (14) are defined. As can be observed in FIG. 4, the locking element (13) is aligned along the same horizontal plane at all times.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, not represented herein, both the locking element (13) and the hooking element (23) additionally comprise a rod on their proximal end which articulates on the fixing parts (11, 21), respectively, for folding thereof. As can be observed in said FIG. 6, a curved cavity (26) is defined between the two tilted sections (25) and the vertical projections (24), dimensionally adapted to receive and house the distal end of the female part (10).

Finally, FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the connection between the locking element (13) of the female part (10) and the hooking element (23) of the male part (20), whereupon both are firmly joined together. 

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A device for connecting chairs in row alignment, for chairs having: a seat; a bottom frame disposed underneath the seat, and at least one tubular profile, comprised in the bottom frame, and whereupon the seat rests, wherein the device comprises: a female part; and a male part, both the female part and the male part being connectable to the tubular profile of the chair, and destined for being solidarily connected to other male and female parts, respectively, of chairs disposed in adjacent lateral positions, characterised in that the female and male parts comprise pivoting means for pivoting with respect to the tubular profiles, for allowing extraction and deployment thereof, depending on whether or not arrangement of chairs in row alignment is required.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the female part comprises: a first fixing body having a recess dimensionally adapted for adjusting to the tubular profile, and a locking element, associated to the first fixing body, and defining an enclosed space, and having diverging projections on a distal end thereof.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the male part comprises: a second fixing body, having a recess dimensionally adapted for adjusting to the tubular profile, a hooking element associated to the second fixing body, a pair of tilted sections located on a distal end of the hooking element, vertical projections projecting from the tilted sections, and a horizontal intermediate section project, for connecting together the vertical projections, wherein the vertical projections are destined for being introduced into the diverging projections of the female part of the adjacent chair, abutting against these and preventing involuntary unhooking thereof.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the male part comprises: a second fixing body, having a recess dimensionally adapted for adjusting to the tubular profile, a hooking element associated to the second fixing body, a pair of tilted sections located on a distal end of the hooking element, vertical projections projecting from the tilted sections, and a horizontal intermediate section project, for connecting together the vertical projections, wherein the vertical projections are destined for being introduced into the diverging projections of the female part of the adjacent chair, abutting against these and preventing involuntary unhooking thereof.
 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the pivoting means comprise through holes made in the first fixing body for allowing the locking element to rotate, for remaining completely hidden underneath the seat where arrangement of chairs in row alignment is not required.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the locking element additionally comprises a rod on a proximal end thereof, for articulating on the first fixing body, for pivoting thereof.
 14. The device of claim 9, wherein the first fixing body is manufactured from plastic.
 15. The device of claim 9, wherein the locking element is metallic.
 16. The device of claim 10, wherein the folding means comprise through holes made in the second fixing body for allowing the hooking element to rotate, remaining completely hidden underneath the seat where arrangement of chairs in row alignment is not required.
 17. The device of claim 10, wherein the hooking element additionally comprises a rod on a proximal end thereof, for articulating on the second fixing body, for pivoting thereof.
 18. The device of claim 10, wherein the second fixing body is manufactured from plastic.
 19. The device of claim 10, wherein the hooking element is metallic. 